1983 Fender Stratocaster Bowling Ball Blue
SOLD!
Who buys vintage guitars? We do!
Call 530-570-1525 or email sales@maharsvintageguitars.com to sell your vintage guitar, bass, amplifier, etc - one piece or a collection! We are always ready to buy instruments, amps and effects from Fender, Gibson, Martin, Epiphone, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Marshall, Vox and just about anything else related to musical instruments.
Here we have a guitar that has escaped me for years, my first "bowling ball" Strat!
The hydro-dipped guitars were made in very limited numbers in the early 80's, just before Fender changed hands and US production temporarily ceased.
During the late 1970's, Les Paul guitars ruled rock and roll. Everyone was playing some manner of a Les Paul. That is until Eddie Van Halen came on the scene. No one since Jimi Hendrix influenced Rock guitar player like Van Halen. There had been players that tapped their guitars going back to the 1930's, but they didn't sound anything like Eddie. He was playing his chopped up Kramer Stratocaster-style guitar he referred to as Frankenstein.
He built it using parts from other guitars and played it like a maniac. Rock guitar players started copying his style and the demand for Stratocasters and Strat-style guitars skyrocketed
CBS still owned Fender and the management was under pressure to regain the company market share. Japanese manufacturing began to address these issues.
To further their attempt to regain sales, Fender decided to take on a new approach. With it's wild look Van Halen's Kramer Strat was different than other guitars with a solid finish. Fender wanted an eye catching guitar that looked different.
A sample of a new guitar finish made it's way to Fender headquarters. This finish resembled tie dye clothing and the wild designs on bowling balls. It stood out like sculptured marble. Fender was very impressed and decided to do a limited run of 225 Stratocasters and 75 Telecasters.
The artist responsible for this finish was Darren Johansen. He originally developed this finish for a drum set and then did a mock-up of a guitar. He sent a picture of the guitar to the folks at Fender and was surprised to get a response and an invitation to that years NAMM show.
Fender’s management was so impressed that they took him aside and asked that he not show his guitar to any other people at the show. On the spot, they agreed to finish 300 instruments with Johansen’s finish.
Fender gave all of these Strat and Tele bodies a coat of primer and then sent to Johansen for finishing. Fender decided to have three-color groups of 75 guitars produced using differing color patterns.
To promote the Marble Strat and Tele, Fender produced posters, baseball style caps, and T-shirts. Dealers commented they liked the guitar, but it looked more like a bowling ball than a marble. Hence, the term Bowling Ball Stratocaster is the name by which they came to be known. Unfortunately, this guitar was not a success. No additional Bowling Ball Strats manufactured after 1985.
A running joke about these guitars is that they are as heavy as a bowling ball. This one, however, is quite light for the era at about 7.75 pounds.
The guitar is beautiful, all original and in excellent shape. Included is the harder-to-find tremolo arm that differs from others due to the different bridge design of this era.
The case that is included is assumed to be the original Fender case.
Color: Bowling Ball Blue
Weight:7lb 12.5oz
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple
Neck Date: Oct 14, 1983
Neck Profile: U
Fretboard: Maple
Inlays: Black Dot
Frets: Original, minimal wear
Fret count: 21
Nut material: Bone
Nut width: 1 11/16"
Scale: 25.5"
Radius: 10"
Neck thickness at 1st fret: .83"
Neck thickness at 12th fret: .88"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: .050"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: .050"
Total length: 38.5"
Lower bout: 12.75"
Waist: 9.25"
Upper bout: 11"
Body depth/thickness: 1.75"
String gauge: .010-.046
Hardware Color: Chrome
Bridge Pickup Brand: Original Fender Single Coil
Bridge Pickup Reading: 5.70k
Pickup Original?: Yes
Middle Pickup Brand: Original Fender Single Coil
Middle Pickup Reading: 5.80k
Pickup Original?: Yes
Neck Pickup Brand: Original Fender Single Coil
Neck Pickup Reading: 5.79k
Pickup Original?: Yes
Pickguard: 1 ply white
Bridge: Free Flyte with push in whammy bar
Tuners: Original Fender
Switch: 5 Way
Pots/Codes: Original
Case: OHSC
Notes:
Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Buyer to pay prior to shipment via Paypal, wire transfer, credit card or other electronic means. Payment must clear before shipping. Certified checks and trades are accepted, however checks must clear before we will ship and trades must be received here and evaluated prior to shipment of our item.
All orders ship within three business days of the receipt of an order, usually faster. Tracking information will be automatically forwarded to all buyers. Buyers must retain all shipping materials in the event a return is necessary.
Returns accepted if the purchaser responds within 48 hours of receipt of an item and there is a discrepancy relating to the condition or originality of an item. Returns are not accepted for items that do not meet the needs or sonic tastes of clients due to the subjective nature, unless such concern is stated prior to the purchase. Any return for reasons other than incorrect advertising of condition or originality on the part of Mahar's Vintage Guitars shall be the responsibility of the buyer, which shall result in the buyer paying all shipping costs (to and from) their location.